Genes and memes

[redsnake05]

I recently did DNA with one of my classes, and thought that we should touch on the idea of memes as a way of passing on cultural knowledge. It turned out that no one in the class had ever heard of internet memes, not even lolcats. So I introduced lolcats and demotivators as a five-minute funtime reward at the end of the lesson, having the projector on and flicking through a range of lolcats and demotivators. The students thought it was interesting, and it was nice to give them a reward that was easy. I'm a big fan of five-minute reward times at the end of class.


Unsurprisingly, demotivational posters were their favourites.

This is the one my colleagues and I want to buy for our office:



This is the one the students think we should get:



Head over to Despair, Inc to find your favourite beautifully framed piece of misery.

Comments

[used_songs]

It turned out that no one in the class had ever heard of internet memes, not even lolcats.

Wow! I'm so immersed in web culture (even at work) that it's hard to imagine. I know my students know about lolcats because they reference them and a few have vast collections. But I don't know if they know about demotivationals. I may have to find a way to work those in. I know the attitude would appeal to my students.

[redsnake05]

It was hilarious. They were looking at me with a combination of "Miss, you have waaay to much time on your hands" and "Miss, ur in my meme, culturally appropriatinz my indecipherable youthness".

And, yeah, Demotivators are awesome and the kids responded really well.

[kat_lair]

Just a note to say that this comm is an awesome idea and have joined :) Now I only have to get to the habit of actually using DW as more than a backup place for my LJ... Might have to spend some time this evening trying to figure out how to set out reading filters and cross-post.

Bless your students for not being internet savvy. I have to mod some online student boards for one course and usually at the beginning of the semester when we go through the posting guidelines, I make a joke about 'im watching ur boards, like a ceiling Kat'. Usually about 20% gets it and the rest just stare at me like I'm insane...

[redsnake05]

Cool, I look forward to having you here - and it is the easiest place in the world to get used to, seriously.

[velvetpage]

I'd have to be careful about these in grade five, wouldn't I? But it would fit in well with some of our upcoming work - the idea that knowledge is socially constructed and what is "known" changes from one group to the next is a really important one for critical thinking.

These are also a great way to teach sarcasm, inference, and humour. Having kids make up demotivational posters - or motivational ones - or one of each on the same topic - would be a really cool media project.

[redsnake05]

Yes, you would have to be careful - but if you can use, say Adbusters, then you should be able to use Demotivators. And I love the idea of getting kids to make a motivator and a demotivator on the same topic. Check out Big Huge Lab's motivator maker for an easy way to do it. I wish I taught something that we could make them for.

[velvetpage]

We're working on point of view and metaphor in upcoming weeks, and I'm always on the lookout for media marks, especially if they can showcase the talents of the students who don't like to write as much. I think I may run with this.

Oh, and this is perfect: we're about to start a unit on GOVERNMENT. I can't think of a better topic to highlight optimism and cynicism!

[redsnake05]

Oh that's awesome. Let me know how it goes - it could be great for students who aren't so in to writing, but have an eye for putting together a static image.